Last night I went to a Relief Society dinner (not because I wanted to go so much, but because I wanted to leave the house and not have to worry about putting the kids to bed), which ended up being a really fun night. Only problem was because we don't have DVR, I missed out on American Idol. I have been waiting all day for ch131.com to put it up (great website for any of you who don't have DVR and miss your favorite tv show), and it's finally here! While it is loading (it does take ever so long), I am here. Hiding from the kidlets.
One random memory while waiting for the pics to transfer from the camera (and consoling a crying Kyla who found me): way back before cell phones were common, also known as the era in which I was a freshman or sophomore in high school, I never seemed to have change for the pay phone. Any coins that I may have collected throughout the day always went straight into the vending machine for a box of Hot Tamales or a Snickers bar, or if I was feeling extra rebellious, a Wild Cherry Pepsi. And because quite often I hadn't arranged ahead of time for a ride home, I would find myself stranded after volleyball, basketball or softball practice. Which meant I sat around a lot in the hallway across from the principal's office, hoping by some miracle my mom would read my mental telepathy and jump into the minivan to pick me up.
Until one day we came upon a genius plan--I would call collect. This only worked, and was only genius, because we used 1-800-CALLATT. When dialing collect with AT&T, I could call home, wait for my mom to pick up, and in the pause where I was to give my name, I would instead give the number of the phone by which I was camped out. My mom would then deny the call, hang up and call me right back. To this day I can hear in my mind her voice as she said, "no," and still feel that little rush of excitement knowing we had worked the system and she would be calling me right back.
That makes me a little sad that teenagers now days will never have the same kind of thrill. But actually, when I stop to think about it, it really wasn't so great hanging out in the hallways of Pine View High at 5:30 in the evening, sweaty and exhausted from another hard day of practice, so I can't really reflect on how bad things have become today...
11 comments:
oh yes....I remember doing that.
Oh you are a wild and rebelious thing arent you with that wild cherry pepsi!!!
People call my phone collect often from the local jail and use that same system. WHoever had this number before me hung out with the wrong crowd. Its kind of funny that the jail birds think they are scammin out but really call a white girl with 3 kids....
Oh, too funny, I'd forgotten ALL about that! Leave it to you to remember! haha
definitly remember doing that!!
We used to do that all the time too. Oh, the good ole days!
I did the exact same thing! My mom always took forever to pick me up (because she worked too) and I was always the last one to leave. Every day... since I did a sport every season.
Way to beat the man.
Getting out of putting the kids to bed is one of my main motivators for going to enrichments. :)
I so remember the collect calling. That brought back memories of being in the halls at PV. Isn't it weird that no one really had cell phones way back then? Crazy!
Wow, I did the same thing aren't we rebels! Why didn't I give you a ride? Hmmm.
In our family, in the place you say your name we'd usually say, "Pick me up from the pool at 6" as fast as we could...always working the system.. Kids really are missing out these days.
Yes! I would do that too...only not be so clever and leave a phone number. My parents just used the collect call as indication that I needed a ride now from wherever I was supposed to be. I have totally forgotten about that.
ha!! whatever happen to collect calls! can you even make them now? i remember there were always commercials for them on tv!
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